Chapter 12 The Banner is not rolled 23 Section 5 of the Han Dynasty (207 AD), the first month.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Nanyang, Wancheng, the sunset gathers the camp of the Son of Heaven. Today is the wedding day of the general and the eldest princess, and in order to make up for the regret that he could not go to Jinyang to congratulate him, the little emperor invited the generals to celebrate at the banquet in the camp.

When the ministers of civil and military affairs were drunk, they enthusiastically discussed the strategy of attack and asked for war one after another. Xiao Tianzi was impassioned, and shouted: "On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the grain, grass and ordnance are ready, the armies are deployed in place, and the army will attack Yuyang first, and it must be decided in a battle." The generals agreed with a bang, and the momentum was like a rainbow.

In the middle of the night, Xingtai Shangshu ordered Fu Gan to explain in detail the strategy of attacking Yuyang, and instructed Yan Liang, Wang Dang, Zhong Xuan, Zhang Xiu, Wu Xiong, Peng Lie and other army commanders to obey the military order, and strive to conquer Yuyang in the shortest possible time, quickly break the stalemate on the battlefield of Nanyang, and lay the foundation for the army to successfully conquer Wancheng and recover Nanyang.

The generals left overnight. Xiao Tianzi personally sent it to Yuanmen, and after returning to the big tent, he was still immersed in extreme excitement, without the slightest sleep, pulling Jia Xu and Fu Gan to talk non-stop.

"You say, are the generals and my aunt together now?" Xiao Tianzi asked with a grin.

The expressions on Jia Xu and Fu Gan's faces were very strange, and they couldn't help laughing, this is not nonsense. Xiao Tianzi saw the eyes of the two, and immediately added,

"I mean if they slept together......" Jia Xu and Fu Gan looked at each other and laughed out loud.

Xiao Tianzi knew that he was speechless, scratched his head in embarrassment, and smirked,

"They should sleep together......" Jia Xu and Fu Gan couldn't hold back any longer, laughing wildly, without the slightest courtesy of a monarch and a minister.

Xiao Tianzi saw the two of them laughing crookedly, and he was also happy, slapping the table with both hands, and screaming at the top of his throat.

The three of them were happy for a while, and Xiao Tianzi pointed to the two of them again and said: "The two Aiqing have been on the expedition with me for almost three years, if you want to go home, you can tell me that after Nanyang, I can let you go home and have a look." ”

"Your Majesty's kindness, the ministers have received it." Jia Xu smiled,

"It's just the battle of Nanyang, I'm afraid it's not as smooth as Your Majesty imagined, judging from the current situation, it is very difficult for the army to conquer Wancheng before the beginning of spring." Xiao Tianzi looked at him in surprise,

"At the military meeting just now, didn't Aiqing say that it was easy to fight Nanyang?" Jia Xu and Fu Gan laughed and said nothing.

Xiao Tianzi was a little anxious, pulled the map on the desk, and pointed at the map with his little hand.

"After the New Year, the rebels in Xiangyang may go north to the rescue, contain our forces, open up the connection with Wancheng, and fight us for a long time. As long as they held out on the battlefield in Nanyang until early spring, Cao Cao of Xuzhou and Sun Quan of Yangzhou would definitely send troops north to threaten the Central Plains, while Liu Bei of Yizhou would also send troops to Longnan to threaten Guanzhong. As a result, the battlefield increased and the battle situation was fierce. The financial endowment of the imperial court is bound to be unsustainable, and it is very likely that we will withdraw from Nanyang and return in vain. ”

"The two Aiqing have always believed that whether the two diversion battlefields of Qingyan and Longnan can defeat the rebels in the shortest time at the lowest cost will become the key to victory in the Nanyang battlefield, so the two Aiqing wrote to General Zhaoyun of Chang'an, asking him to let Huaxiong and Sima Yi of Longnan prepare for defense in advance, and let Yanzhou Gaoshun and Yuzhou Lei Chong strengthen the city defense while sending envoys to Xuzhou and Jiangdong to implement the strategy of appeasement, trying to provoke the contradiction between Cao Cao and Sun Quan, destroy their alliance, and weaken the threat of Cao Cao and Sun Quan to the Central Plains as much as possible."

"Judging from the deployment of these attacks, we have enough strength to conquer Wancheng. There are currently 150,000 infantry cavalry troops on the battlefield of Nanyang, and heavy siege equipment is being transported one after another, if the army conquers Yuyang and Nieyang successively this month, then we will have enough time and strength to capture Wancheng before the arrival of April. Xiao Tianzi looked up at Jia Xu and Fu Gan, and asked suspiciously,

"In a blink of an eye, the two Aiqing have different views on the Nanyang battle situation, why?" The smile on Jia Xu's face gradually dissipated, his expression gradually became solemn, and after a long silence, he said slowly: "Because of the general's urgency." ”

"On the first day of the first lunar month, the general sent a quick performance with an eight-hundred-mile fast horse, detailing what was happening in Jinyang. After Lord Taiwei proposed the integration of Confucianism and Taoism in Jinyang, the debate in Jinyang was very fierce, but the Prime Minister found a way to ensure the long-term stability of the Zhongxing strategy from this matter, and he tried to use the excuse of aiding Confucianism to launch a larger-scale reform, that is, the improvement of Confucianism, and then let the Han Dynasty achieve long-term stability. ”

"Aiding Confucianism?" It was the first time Xiao Tianzi had heard this new term, and he asked curiously,

"What do you mean?"

"This ......" Fu Gan hesitated for a moment and said,

"It's a long story, would Your Majesty be willing to hear it?"

"You say, you say ......" Xiao Tianzi urged again and again,

"I'm listening." Fu Gan immediately started from the founding of Gaozu, talked about the rule of Wenjing, talked about Emperor Xiaowu's exclusive respect for Confucianism, talked about the bloody struggle between Confucianism and Taoism, and talked about the discussion between Shiqu Pavilion and Baihuguan...... Jia Xu made additions from time to time, especially the influence of Confucianism and Taoism on statecraft...... The two talked tirelessly for nearly an hour, and Xiao Tianzi listened with relish and interest.

"Two Aiqing, what is the direct relationship between the improvement of Confucianism and the Nanyang battlefield?" Xiao Tianzi understood

The meaning of "aiding the Tao into Confucianism" is even more confusing. Fu Gan shook his head, sighed, and smiled bitterly.

Jia Xu frowned and thought for a moment,

"Your Majesty, this matter has to start with last year's Nanyang fiasco." The fundamental reason for the fiasco of last year's Nanyang War was that the contradictions between all parties in the court and court intensified, and the struggle for power became white-hot.

The reform faction headed by Prime Minister Li Wei made a series of heavy blows, seriously damaging the interests of the gate lords headed by Lord Taifu Yang Biao, and the two sides fought bloodily.

If it weren't for the fact that the general suddenly became critically ill and the eldest princess returned to His Majesty, Chang'an would have been almost destroyed. With the withdrawal of Lord Yang Biao from the court, the Prime Minister lost the right to assist him, and Chang'an was temporarily stabilized, but this matter was not over, and the fierce contradictions were only temporarily suppressed.

After the general's condition improved, an even greater contradiction arose, that is, the power center of the Han Dynasty was transferred to Jinyang.

In order to restrain and weaken the power of the generals, and on the grounds of protecting and consolidating the imperial power, the gate lords and scholars came up with a policy of reforming the official system, trying to drive the prime minister and a group of reformist ministers out of the court, and then with the help of His Majesty's power, they regained control of the government.

The interests of the prime minister and the military class are the same, and the revision of the official system will first touch the interests of the military class, and the eldest princess was anxious and invited the princess to Jinyang in order to ease the tense situation in Chang'an.

Then marry the general in advance, let Jinyang override the Son of Heaven and the Chang'an court, and use strong force to suppress Chang'an.

Only when Chang'an remains stable can the Nanyang battlefield be strongly supported and the battle of Nanyang can be won.

The battle of Nanyang was won, His Majesty had made a meritorious deed, and the Son of Heaven could slowly replace Jinyang in control of the authority.

However, the eldest princess's wish was shattered when Lord Taiwei proposed a policy to help Confucianism in Jinyang.

In order to ensure the interests of the military meritorious class, Lord Taiwei suddenly proposed to aid Taoism and enter Confucianism, intending to revive Taoist doctrine, which cannot but make people think of the Yellow Turban Army that caused chaos in the society, and cannot but make people doubt his true intentions.

In a sense, Lord Taiwei is threatening the imperial court, the eldest princess and the general.

Lord Taiwei used to be the commander of the Yellow Turban Army, and most of the generals in today's army were born in the Yellow Turbans, and they constitute the military meritorious class in today's court.

The interests of the military meritorious class were damaged, and the Taiwei ascended to the heights, and the consequences were unimaginable, so the Prime Minister did not hesitate and immediately gave support

The banner of "Confucianism and Taoism are integrated, and Taoism is aided into Confucianism" has put forward revival

The suggestion of "orthodox Confucianism" completely put an end to the attempt of Lord Taiwei to revive Taoist doctrine, and then joined forces with the military meritorious class again

The strategy of "drawing wages from the bottom of the kettle" launched a new round to the gate lords

"Attack". But the Prime Minister's purpose is not only that, he and Taiwei have a bigger goal.

As I said just now, the eldest princess married the general in advance in order to increase Jinyang's strength, so as to suppress Chang'an and stabilize the imperial court, but now the prime minister and the Taiwei are going to implement the policy of Confucian reform, and once again provoke the struggle of all parties in Chang'an, which is clearly against Jinyang.

What happens next? Gate Lords will be violent

"Counterattack" to prevent the implementation of this policy, the court will continue to be chaotic, and the prime minister and the princess will use this as an excuse to force the eldest princess to make a choice, either to forcibly implement the policy of Confucian reform, or to hand over the authority and completely withdraw from the court.

Forcibly implementing the policy of Confucian reform will make the situation even more chaotic, and the eldest princess can only choose to hand over the authority and completely withdraw from the court, but who will the authority of the eldest princess be handed over?

His Majesty is just eleven years old this year, and he has just taken charge of the government, and he does not have all the conditions, so the authority can only be temporarily handed over to the auxiliary ministers.

The Prime Minister is the best candidate to serve as an assistant minister according to the law, and this time in order to alleviate the conflict in the court, he was dismissed from the post of assistant, but if the eldest princess wants to hand over all the authority this time, she must first restore his position as an assistant, and worship him as the first assistant, because next, Your Majesty is going to make a move.

"I made a move?" Xiao Tianzi was shocked when he heard this, and asked with his mouth open,

"What did I do?" He looked down at his two hands and said something that made Jia Xu laugh,

"Left hand or right hand?" Fu Gan laughed. Jia Xu couldn't cry or laugh, and sighed softly,

"Your Majesty, you have to grow up quickly."

"Chang'an is about to fall into chaos, and the battle of Nanyang cannot be fought at all." Jia Xu continued,

"The general's letter is to tell us that we must readjust the attack deployment, come up with countermeasures as soon as possible, try to stabilize Chang'an first, and then plan a counter-insurgency strategy."

"Won't fight?" Xiao Tianzi is stupid.

"It's not that you don't fight, it's how you fight to ensure victory." Gate valve people comprehensive

The "counterattack" is very powerful, and we must not launch a decisive battle until we have resolved the crisis of the imperial court.

Although they did not have an army in their hands, they had the prestige that had been passed down from generation to generation, a large area of land, hundreds of disciples and former officials, an incalculable amount of money and food, and too many things...... Their overall confrontation is very powerful.

To use the simplest analogy, for example, the imperial court used the right to cultivate the land in the border county for 30 years to pay off their debts on credit, and these people could give up the debt and refuse to go to the border county to cultivate the land.

In this way, many difficulties in the border counties could not be solved, especially in the western Xinjiang, which urgently needed the population to garrison the frontier, and the imperial court needed to spend more money to provide relief, and the financial resources of the imperial court were even more strained.

For example, limited fields. Since the imperial court restricts farmland, then I will farm less, or even stop farming, and switch to business.

If these people don't farm for a year, how much grain will the imperial court have to produce? They can also spare no effort to win over and corrupt officials, sabotage and manipulate the implementation of the new imperial court system, and come up with various schemes to annex land in disguise, so that groups of people have nothing and flee from their hometowns.

They can also hoard grain and other materials, disrupt prices, exploit the people, and intensify contradictions between the government and the opposition.

They can also buy grain from the rich at a high price for the imperial court

The strategy of "entering the Lord" has lost its effect. They can also recruit disciples in a large number of private schools, wantonly slander various policies of the imperial court, and incite the common people to confront the imperial court...... Wait a minute.

They had all sorts of ways to fight against the imperial court. The collapse of Wang Mang's new dynasty and the overthrow of Sheji more than 20 years ago are all living examples.

In dealing with these people, the massacre cannot solve the problem, but can only continue to struggle and compromise with them, find a balance in the struggle and compromise, benefit each other in the balance, and strive to exchange the stability of the society and the peace and contentment of the people at the lowest price.

This is the reason why the eldest princess was forced to surrender her authority and completely withdraw from the court, but the military class is a greater threat to the society.

After weighing the pros and cons, the eldest princess could only hand over the authority to the prime minister and the princess to ensure the stability of the army.

The Prime Minister and the Taiwei have gained authority, the gate lord scholars have lost their protection, the bloody storm is inevitable, the disaster of the collapse of Wang Mang's new dynasty and the collapse of Sheji twenty years ago is just around the corner, and the only solution at this time is to let the gate lord scholars be protected again, and the protector is Your Majesty.

If Your Majesty wants to protect them, it is definitely not possible to count on the military merit class dominated by the Yellow Turban Department, and you can only count on the military merit class outside the Yellow Turban Department, that is, the descendants of the generals.

The general's descendants are the Fengyun Iron Cavalry, the Wula Iron Cavalry, and the Duliao Iron Cavalry, the Iron Cavalry of the Border Army in the Northwest and Xinjiang, and the Iron Cavalry of the Hu Nationality on the Desert.

Jia Xu pointed to the map on the desk and said to Xiao Tianzi: "After we defeat Yuyang and Niyang, we will surround Wancheng. ”

"The intention of the rebels is to delay, and the longer it drags on, the more unfavorable the situation will be for us. We also have to delay, we need time to stabilize Chang'an, so we have to maintain the stalemate on the Nanyang battlefield until we conquer Xuzhou. "Xiao Tianzi is completely dizzy,

"Hit Xuzhou? Where did the army come from? Even if there is an army, how to raise food and grass and military funds? Several battlefields, hundreds of thousands of troops, what support does the imperial court have? ”

"The army has, Your Majesty can obtain the consent of the general, and issue an order to requisition the Fengyun Iron Cavalry, the Iron Cavalry of the Border Army and the Iron Cavalry of the Great Desert Hu Clan to the south of the Central Plains." Jia Xu said,

"As for the grain, grass and military resources, it is necessary to rely on the help of the gate lords, which is the condition for Your Majesty to protect them."

"Will the Great General agree?"

"The general already had a premonition that the development of the situation would endanger the society, so he wrote this letter. In the future, when the situation is at a critical juncture, his only recourse is to hand over all his force to you. Because the gate lords will only believe you, and only you, the son of the Han Dynasty, can protect their lives and the interests of future generations. His Majesty inherited the force of the general, and got the support of the gate lords, and after defeating Xuzhou, he made meritorious deeds, and His Majesty had enough strength to contend with the Prime Minister and the Taiwei, and when he returned to Chang'an in the future, His Majesty could easily take back all the authority in their hands. ”

"Will the Prime Minister and the Captain agree?"

"They will not only agree, but will also suggest that Your Majesty take this strategy to obtain the military power in the hands of the great general and inherit the general's force." Jia Xu's face suddenly showed a hint of admiration,

"In today's world, if you talk about intelligence, no one can match Li Zhongyuan, this person's superb means are jaw-dropping."

"A small strategy of 'aiding the Tao and entering Confucianism' was turned into magic by him, and turned into a thunderous knife, and the gate lord scholars were in a desperate situation and had to fight for survival."

"The gate lords and scholars joined forces to fight against the imperial court, and Chang'an was in turmoil, forcing the eldest princess to hand over the last authority."

"The Prime Minister got the authority in the hands of the eldest princess, and in fact formed a bloody situation of suppressing the gate lords, which made the situation in Chang'an even more critical, and the general had to hand over the force to you for this reason, so that you could come forward and unite the gate lords to contend with them, and this is the most powerful thing about the Prime Minister. Of course, he didn't dare to slaughter the gate lords, his purpose was to force the general to hand over his force to you, so that the general and the eldest princess would withdraw from the court together. ”

"Your Excellency and Your Majesty have formed a confrontation situation, and both sides have to make concessions, who will bear the cost of this concession in the end? Gate Valve Scholars. ”

"The Prime Minister will definitely return the authority to you, but the condition is that he will enter Confucianism and improve Confucianism. This is a matter related to the long-term peace and stability of the Han Dynasty, and of course Your Majesty must agree. ”

"As for the gate lords, the scholars will also give in, because Your Majesty has already gained authority and controlled the army, and the general and the eldest princess have also withdrawn from the court, and the greatest goal of the gate lords has been achieved. Although Confucianism has to be reformed and the reform has to be implemented, and their interests have been lost to a certain extent, if they do not agree, they will have to confront His Majesty and the Han Dynasty, and they will never make such a stupid choice. They will wait for their time, for a chance to make a comeback. ”

"At this point, His Majesty is in power and begins to govern, and the New Deal will promote the reform of Confucianism, and the improved Confucianism will consolidate the New Deal, the two complement each other and develop rapidly, Neo-Confucianism will soon occupy the dominant position of Han academics, and the backward scriptures will not be able to shake the status of Neo-Confucianism, and the scholars will pay a heavy price for their self-reliance and blind self-confidence." Xiao Tianzi sat on the seat and thought for a long, long time.

"What do the two Aiqing mean is that we deliberately create a stalemate on the battlefield of Nanyang with the help of the Prime Minister's thunderous sword, and then add fuel to the fire, so that the situation in Chang'an is completely out of control, and then let my aunt hand over her authority and let the general hand over the army?" Jia Xu and Fu Gan looked at each other, their faces showing appreciation.

"The general also vaguely expressed this meaning in the letter, the day when the wind and clouds iron cavalry went south, that is, when His Majesty took over the general's force." Fu Gan bowed down and said,

"Since the general has said so, why should Your Majesty hesitate?" Xiao Tianzi's eyes were red, and he said gloomily: "Why do you want to do this? My aunt will be very sad. ”

"For the sake of His Majesty's great cause of Zhongxing, and for the long-term peace and stability of the Han Dynasty." Jia Xu persuaded in a low voice,

If this is not done, how can the reform of Confucianism be implemented? When will the eldest princess and the great general hand over their authority? Now that Your Majesty is still young, when you grow up, you will know that if there is no plan for the Prime Minister to stabilize the country today, the Zhongxing of the Han Dynasty will be even more difficult. "Jump to